More than 600 long-awaited car parking spaces will be available to staff and public at Blacktown Hospital from next Monday.

Health Minister Jillian Skinner officially opened a $24.2 million car park at the Blacktown campus of Blacktown Mount Druitt Hospital this morning.

The 622-space car park will open to the public from Monday. Mrs Skinner said the car park was a key component of the $324 million expansion of Blacktown Mount Druitt Hospital, the state’s largest hospital construction project.

“The scarcity of modern, accessible car parking is one of the issues most commonly raised as I visit hospitals and speak with staff and patients,” Mrs Skinner said.

She said the government would spend more than $115 million on major car park projects across NSW, whih would add more than 3000 car spaces for staff, patients and visitors.

The new car park will cost a maximum daily rate of $18 for the public.

Concession rates for eligible members of the public will be: first three hours free, one exit $5, three-day pass $10 and seven-day pass $20.

The weekly rate for staff will be $10 (rising to $21 by January 2015).